tech-house

Here’s a selection of tracks from all the subVariant releases. Thirteen special edition physical copies were made and individually signed and numbered (pictured above).Download the zip file, or click on the track names to download individual MP3s.

Frequencity is a curated compilation featuring quality cross-genre electronic music tracks from Chicagoland musicians. Earlier this year subVariant released a public call for electronic music from area musicians, and in response, a dozen tracks were chosen that represented high quality perspectives on the medium from a talented group of people.

As a sample, Ukrainian Village-based Beanbake opens up the compilation with a grandiose, uplifting track that makes you feel as though you were biking along Lake Shore Drive with a gentle breeze at your back and no joggers to evade. Ella Laurence from the far Northwest side made her classic acid track, “aaaAAH” with the help of her dad, Eric. “Big deal,” you say, right? Oh, did I mention that Ella was 9 months old at the time? Drasla takes Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” and twists it into a deeply textured, evocative, IDM-tinged spin on classical from his Chicago base. Elock ends the compilation on a bleepy, squelchy, modulated lo-fi high note with his over the top chiptune party jam, “Ari On Acid.” All this amazingness is delivered to worldwide ears from a select group of people who call Chicago their home.

We’ve also released an original t-shirt design in the theme of “Chicago Electronic Music” and can be bought here. It features the world CHICAGO stylized in a printed circuit board typography and is available in multiple colors.

UPDATE: Due to initial technical difficulties and summer electronic music festivals (and a lot of begging for more time :-p), the deadline is extended to Monday, June 13, 2011 at 9am. The entries will be listened to through the following week and we’ll let you know if your stuff has been chosen.

Hey, Chicagoland-based electronic musicians! Want to be part of a Chicago electronic music compilation? subVariant is planning to release a free-to-download collection called Frequencity featuring quality songs from regional musicians.

All electronic music genres are welcome, but the final compilation will be a limited selection of tracks chosen by the subVariant A&R team.

subVariant will also release an original t-shirt design in the theme of “Chicago Electronic Music” when the compilation is officially released.

Going with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s definition, participation is only open to musicians in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. Even though Chicago-based Chicagoans tend to scoff at suburbanites who adopt the label, we’ll let this one be open to a larger pool of applicants.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 8pmMonday, June 13 at 9am.

“Pirate Party” was the third in the Artificial Intelligence series presented by subVariant at Ai Lounge in Chicago’s Loop. subVariant’s Artificial Intelligence showcase is a series of concept parties that aim to merge art, design, humor, and fun into a dance music scene that often takes itself too seriously, while still maintaining the high level of musical quality and experimentation the company is known for and continuing to support the local electronic music community.

So, “Pirate Party” didn’t mean just dress like a pirate and get three-sheets-to-thar-wind on rum (although, we can’t lie…there was a bit of that in effect as well on Saturday)…it was an invitation for local artists to hand in the work they wanted to share, for free, on the subVariant site, and be promoted and featured in the local press, music blogs, social networks and the like. Sort of like The Pirate Bay, but totally legal since everyone who handed in music has the right to distibute the works (yes, there is a mighty huge .torrent link at the bottom too…please seed!) Continue Reading →